Crew Connection Tips and Tricks for Clients

As the internal creative agency bidding for a project, you know the brand as well as anyone and you cross paths with the decision makers every day. That doesn’t mean you should approach it like a sure thing. Here are some ways to nail the creative video pitch, and make sure the project remains an inside job.

6 tips to nail your creative video pitch

1. Use your intimacy and access to your advantage 

Nobody knows a company and its brand better than the people who eat it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You know  the vision, the budget restrictions, and the decision makers’ likes and dislikes. You know which of the past campaigns accomplished the goal and which ones fell flat. As an insider, you have a unique position of internal knowledge and access. Keep everything you know in mind and use it to your advantage as you create your pitch.

2. Understand the project fully 

Take enough time to understand the project completely—the audience, the goal, the tone, etc. Ask questions. Once you understand it well, gather your creative team to brainstorm. Start with all the ideas, even if they’re terrible. Once you have a list of about 20 that feel like they have some meat, start picking them apart to find the holes.

3. Develop your ideas fully 

Take the top three ideas that made it through the gauntlet and develop them as well as you can among your internal team. Research reference materials for inspiration. From there, present the ideas to your colleagues as well as people unfamiliar with the company and product. Their questions and feedback will reveal where the holes are so you can rework.

4. Create an unforgettable presentation

Once you’ve developed your three ideas, choose a format (such as a storyboard or slideshow, for example) to present them. In addition to some images and/or reference materials that give life to the important beats, include a campaign name and a description of the tone and strategy.

5. Be prepared

Don’t take it for granted that, just because you walk by these people every day, they’ll forgive a sloppy presentation. Make sure your team is fully prepared and then pitch like your job or your paycheck or your next vacation depends on it.

6. Take a moment to breathe 

Giving your best is important (even if just so you can sleep well at night), but remember the stakes aren’t life and death. If all you’re thinking about is how you have to get this right…you’re almost surely going to get it very very wrong.

The bottom line 

The market is crowded with plenty of other hardworking, qualified individuals and agencies itching for a chance to bid the same project. Do your homework and nail your pitch to ensure you’re the one who wins the job.

About Crew Connection

Crew Connection puts a suite of marketing tools at your fingertips. Get your demo reels, stills, gear, awards, and more in front of the biggest clients all over the world—for free. At Crew Connection we pay video and post production providers within 30 days of receiving your invoice so your work and your life are never interrupted. Need live assistance or want to add quality jobs to your pipeline? Our crew coordinators are on call around the clock. Sign in to Crew Connection, call 303-526-4900, or email info@crewconnection.com.

From dating websites to Yelp reviews, online profiles aren’t exactly known for being trustworthy. Anonymity makes it easy to game the system, and some businesses even pay for glowing reviews of their products or services. What if there were a third party service to confirm that a potential date’s hair is real or a company’s reviews are from actual customers?

Whether booking crewing services or finding a date, it’s just nice to have some reassurance you’ve found a good match. That’s why we are so proud to be among ProductionHub’s Top 100 most popular and trusted profiles. Our film and video crewing services stand out because we are true to our values of optimism, integrity, entrepreneurship, and customer service. And besides a shoulder to cry on after a bad date, our commitment to our values means that you benefit from our expertise, quick payment, and always-on service.

Expertise:

We’ve been in the freelance video production business for nearly 30 years and know the best video production crews in every corner of the globe. Our crew coordinators are video veterans who always match you with the best crew for your unique project.  

Quick Payment:

We pay crews within 30 days because we know happy crews are productive crews. Can your overworked media department, harried HR professionals, or current crewing service say the same?

Always-On Film and Video Crewing Services:

Transparency is a major part of our integrity as a company. That’s why you can view our database of vetted international film crews anytime at Crew Connection‘s online database. And if you need to talk to a dedicated crew coordinator immediately, you can always get ahold of us on our emergency lines  24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year.

About Crew Connection

Crew Connection puts a world of video and post-production service providers at your fingertips. In just a few clicks you can search, chat with, and book vetted crews local to your shoot—all on your own schedule. Rely on Crew Connection’s team of media experts to organize the crews and gear you need for multi-day and multi-location video projects anywhere in the world. Our professional crew coordinators are on call around the clock if you ever need live assistance. Sign up on CrewConnection.com, call us at 303-526-4900, or shoot us an email at info@crewconnection.com.

Seasoned producers get into a rhythm. Before they even set up a project, they have a decent idea of how long the project will take, how much money they’ll spend, and the team they want on the job. Make that shoot international though, and you’re sure to throw even the most experienced professional off balance. That said, it doesn’t have to be a painful experience.

For the scoop on both what makes international crewing painful and what makes it easier, we picked Crew Connection’s Project Owners’ brains. Our Project Owners have daily contact with both crews and clients looking for crewing services. Together, they’ve had their hands in shoots from Texas to Taiwan. Here are five considerations that can make hiring an international crew a pain along with three tips to make the whole thing that much easier.

Five factors that can make hiring an international crew painful:

1. Time zone differences: Anytime you work with someone at a different timezone, communication takes a little extra effort. Internationally, that effort can become Herculean. You may be on the exact opposite end of the clock as those you’re working with and still need to be available for meetings or damage control. Odd hours and late-night or early-morning emails are a given. Time differences can even affect post-production. Shipping files on drives are still the most reliable form of transferring footage but leaves plenty of room for error in other ways.
2. Local laws and regulations: Different countries have different rules so what is a no-brainer in one place may be a no-go in another. Crews don’t want to adopt the responsibility of making sure what you’re asking them to do is in line with local rules. It’s still your job to talk to make sure you’re covered.
3. Vetting: Anyone can pick up a camera and point it at a scene, but we all know it takes a different level of skill to make sure it’s something you are comfortable representing you and your brand. Demo reels and work examples, which are crucial to your ability to judge the quality, may not be as easy to find on some international crews.
4. Extra expenses: In addition to travel costs, working internationally means extra expenses in exchange rates, wiring fees, shipping costs, and more. It all adds up. A lot of international crews also require a deposit (or even the full payment) before the shoot begins. Additionally, you may need to hire a bigger crew than you’re used to. What is a one-person job in your experience could be a three-person job abroad.
5. Extra risk: As a rule, you take on more responsibility and therefore more risk in international shoots. It doesn’t need to be a deterrent in itself, but it’s good to be aware.

Tips to make international crewing easier:

Yes, it really can be a pain, but there are some ways to set yourself up for success.  

1. Over-communicate: Ask a ton of questions. Talk with crews about rates, equipment, the timeline, which crew members are required to be on set, etc. Talk to the local film commission or equivalent (if applicable) and get all permits and releases before you send money or start filming.
2. Learn international business etiquette: It takes some effort to learn a few business etiquette basics, but it will save you some trouble later to have an awareness of local business practices and labor laws upfront.
3. Hire the right partners: A crewing service (like Crew Connection) can make sure you have a qualified crew while also handling all the fees, addressing the time zone differences, and easing the language barriers.

The bottom line

Doing it all on your own can be challenging, but with a little extra work upfront and the right partners in the effort, even international shoots can be as smooth as French silk.

About Crew Connection

Crew Connection puts a world of video and post-production service providers at your fingertips. In just a few clicks you can search, chat with, and book vetted crews local to your shoot—all on your own schedule. Rely on Crew Connection’s team of media experts to organize the crews and gear you need for multi-day and multi-location video projects anywhere in the world. Our professional crew coordinators are on call around the clock if you ever need live assistance. Sign up on CrewConnection.com, call us at 303-526-4900, or shoot us an email at info@crewconnection.com.

This article was originally posted to productionhub.com. Read the original article here.